DNA test clears Georgia inmate of 1979 rape

Man says he is thankful incident is in the past

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ATLANTA — A man freed from a Georgia prison by a DNA test after serving part of a life prison term for a rape nearly 30 years ago says he's just thankful the incident is behind him.

John Jerome White left prison Monday evening, as a result of DNA tests from hairs found at the scene of the 1979 rape.

Prosecutors say authorities found that the DNA matched DNA on file in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation database. That led to an investigation of a new suspect. But the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says no arrests have been made yet.

White was sentenced to life in prison, then was paroled in 1990. A 1997 robbery charge led to a conviction, a seven-year sentence and a requirement that he return to serving his life sentence for the rape conviction.